The Professional Learning Journal of Calgary's Connect Charter School

Category: art

Lorrie Emin articulates how she incorporates innovative teaching methods with her instruction in the realm of art. This video is a testament to the hard work and visually stunning results of her and Connect students’ efforts. Video by Rick Fawcett Continue reading The “Art” of Inquiry: Inquiry Lives Here

It has been a little while since we have posted some of the work that happens at Connect. In this latest installment of our video series, “Inquiry Lives Here”, three examples are shared. 1. Voice Your Vote – Grade 9 … Continue reading Inquiry Still Lives Here!

I was walking down our art hallway today and saw our art teacher, Lorrie Emin, putting up these great pieces of student work. What struck me about these pieces of grade 7 student artwork (beyond the amazing quality) was how the focus was on the student learning – not just on the final product. Each piece demonstrated incredible growth and skill development – made public to the rest of the school. This was done in a simple – yet effective way. Each of the samples had three components: a first draft, a final draft and a short blurb from the … Continue reading Making Learning Visible: Art

On October 5th and 6th, 2011, the Calgary Science School hosted the Forging Connections Conference. This conference was a collaboration between teachers, art and science experts and parents with the goal of integrating art and science more authentically into the students’ learning. This exciting two day event consisted of six, 105 minute sessions. Each was structured around a “show/tell/do” format where an artist (visual, drama/dance and music) showed a finished product; a scientist will explained the magic (science) behind it and then the students were able to make meaning of the knowledge through hands-on creation and exploration. Create, Explore, Discover. … Continue reading Forging Connections between Science and Art

Tonight is an exciting kick off event for us! On October 5th and 6th, 2011, the Calgary Science School is hosting the Forging Connections Conference. This conference is a collaboration between teachers, art and science experts and parents with the goal of integrating art and science more authentically into the students’ learning. It will also provide professional development for the teachers. The two day event is designed to showcase six, 105 minute lessons that will be collaboratively designed by a local practicing scientist, artist and a Calgary Science School teacher. We see it as a Show/Tell/Do type workshop where the … Continue reading Forging Connections Kickoff

Written by Candice Shaw, Grade 5 Math/Science Specialist One of our new initiatives this year is a Fine Arts Integration Program with our grades 4, 5 and 6students. The purpose of this initiative is to deepen the collaboration between our Fine Arts program and the core subject areas. Click here to read more about our upcoming art/science integration conference. As part of this new initiative, a Fraction Art project was created in collaboration between a visual arts specialist and a math/science specialist. In math, Grade 5 students had completed most of the fraction unit when this project was introduced. The … Continue reading Drawing Fractions: Fine Arts Integration

How Do We Know When Students Are Benefitting from the Arts? A Personal Response Supporting Advancing Arts Programs Dr. Shelley Robinson After writing the literature review Promising Practices and Core Learnings in Art Education (Alberta Education, 2008) and then reviewing the K-12 Arts Education Curriculum Framework (Alberta Education, June 2009 Draft), I pose the following question: What is our essential goal as educators when offering the arts in public education? And, how do modular programs compare with advancing programs (that require some pre-requisite skills) in achieving this goal? What seems most natural for me when considering this question is to … Continue reading The Benefits of an Arts Education

“I Used to Think I Couldn’t Draw”by Lorrie Emin, CSS Art Teacher Our grade six art students are currently working on a watercolor portrait project involving a number of steps and components- from developing life drawing skills, transferring the work onto watercolor paper, creating a background, learning about color mixing and painting techniques, to actually painting the portrait. When I decided to try this activity with them, I had very high hopes, but was a little nervous about whether or not my expectations were too high for them. In the past, I have done this project with older kids in … Continue reading Grade 6 Water color Portrait Project